Appiah should take it or leave it -Opeele

Coach 'Opeele' dares Kwesi Appiah

Accra, Oct. 1, GNA - Isaac "Opeele" Boateng, head coach of Tema Youth Football Club, has dared Kwesi Appiah, assistant coach of the Black Stars to quit his position if he is worth more than what is being offered him by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MOESS).

Appiah is reported to be on a 3,000 dollar salary as an assistant coach of the Black Stars and his request for an upward adjustment to 6,000 dollars, a car and accommodation have been turned down by the authorities.

Speaking to the GNA Sports in an interview, the outspoken coach Opeele said, "If Appiah is worth more than 3,000 dollars then he should lay down his tools to justify that and to prove that he is a principled person, instead of hanging on to the job.

"Without this, then, I believe he is just inciting the public against Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac". He stated.

Opeele Boateng backed the decision of the Ministry to pay the coach 3,000 dollars saying, "Appiah should take it or leave it".

He said, the recent furore over the salary of the assistant coach presents a perfect opportunity for Appiah to prove to all that local coaches are competent, principled and capable of expressing their views without fear or favour.

According to Coach Opeele it will also put to rest the confusion over salaries and afford the Stars the needed peace to concentrate on future assignments.

"Anything short of this will be regarded as failure on Appiah's part and an attempt to cause instability in the national team." Opeele Boateng noted.

Coach Opeele added that the Black Stars at this moment need maximum concentration to prepare for their game against Lesotho hence the ongoing saga will not help the team.

According Opeele Boateng, Ghana cannot afford to miss out of the next World Cup because it will be a major blow to the development of football in the country.

"Experience from the last the World Cup reveals that the Mundial served as a learning platform for all stakeholders in the game and we must do everything possible to qualify for the second time. "The World Cup also presents a major economic boost for the country taking into consideration the resources generated by the GFA and the nation as a whole, hence we must not allow anybody to derail our efforts in picking up another slot". Opeele added.

Opeele Boateng also called on the public to stop criticising the authorities for sticking to their decision to pay the assistant coach 3,000 dollars, adding that it is a true a reflection of the coach's worth.